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We [re]enacted Hamlet on the stage.

In the context of performance, I've only ever heard 'reenact' used. However, dictionary.com lists the above example with 'enact'. Are they both correct? Is it just a regional difference?

I'm from Canada, so my guess is that American English uses 'reenact' where UK English uses 'enact'.

EDIT - I looked at a few more examples. It's possible that 'reenact' is used only for events that actually happened (e.g. civil war battle, events of the day), and 'enact' is used for performances. I've still only only heard 'enact' in a legal context, and 'reenact' used to refer to performances, but the latter might have just been an incorrect usage.

We [re]enacted Hamlet on the stage.

In the context of performance, I've only ever heard 'reenact' used. However, dictionary.com lists the above example with 'enact'. Are they both correct? Is it just a regional difference?

I'm from Canada, so my guess is that American English uses 'reenact' where UK English uses 'enact'.

We [re]enacted Hamlet on the stage.

In the context of performance, I've only ever heard 'reenact' used. However, dictionary.com lists the above example with 'enact'. Are they both correct? Is it just a regional difference?

I'm from Canada, so my guess is that American English uses 'reenact' where UK English uses 'enact'.

EDIT - I looked at a few more examples. It's possible that 'reenact' is used only for events that actually happened (e.g. civil war battle, events of the day), and 'enact' is used for performances. I've still only only heard 'enact' in a legal context, and 'reenact' used to refer to performances, but the latter might have just been an incorrect usage.

Source Link
Voriki
  • 167
  • 2
  • 7

'enact' vs 'reenact'

We [re]enacted Hamlet on the stage.

In the context of performance, I've only ever heard 'reenact' used. However, dictionary.com lists the above example with 'enact'. Are they both correct? Is it just a regional difference?

I'm from Canada, so my guess is that American English uses 'reenact' where UK English uses 'enact'.